Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, May 28: IndiGo, India’s largest airline, announced on Wednesday that it will begin operating 18 flights to over 15 destinations from the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) on the first day of its commercial launch. The move comes in partnership with Adani Airport Holdings Ltd. (AAHL), which is leading the development of the greenfield airport project and is India’s largest private operator of PPP airports.
IndiGo has ambitious plans to scale up its presence at NMIA. By November 2025, it plans to operate 79 daily departures, including 14 international flights. This number will rise to over 100 daily departures by March 2026, and further grow to 140 daily flights, including 30 international services, by November 2026.
IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers expressed pride in being the first airline to operate from the new airport, noting that the collaboration reflects the airline's commitment to meeting the rising demands of Indian air travelers and supporting the aviation sector’s growth.
Arun Bansal, CEO of Adani Airports, said the partnership with IndiGo marks a significant milestone in establishing NMIA as a critical domestic and international air transit point. He emphasized that the collaboration would offer improved travel options and convenience for millions of passengers.
NMIA is being designed to become a major aviation hub, with plans to handle 20 million passengers and 0.5 million metric tonnes of cargo per year in its initial phase. Once fully developed, the airport will have the capacity to serve 90 million passengers and 3.2 million metric tonnes of cargo annually. It will feature advanced infrastructure, including two parallel runways and modern terminals.
IndiGo aims to use NMIA as a springboard to expand its network across India and internationally. The airline is working to ensure better accessibility to airports for a larger segment of the Indian population and provide a seamless travel experience.
The addition of NMIA will introduce a dual-airport system in Mumbai, easing congestion at the existing airport and boosting economic development in the Mumbai metropolitan region. The airport spans 1,160 hectares (2,866 acres) and is expected to significantly enhance regional connectivity and global linkages.
The Navi Mumbai International Airport Limited (NMIAL), the special-purpose vehicle managing the project, is a public-private partnership between Mumbai International Airport Limited (a subsidiary of AAHL) with a 74% stake, and the City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra (CIDCO), which holds the remaining 26%.